David Beckham made a pᴀssionate speech about girls’ rights as he took to the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Monday. 

The footballer, 49, spoke about ‘the ‘sad truth’ of girls being ‘held back’ by discrimination and said he wanted his own daughter Harper, 13, to have the opportunities as her brothers. 

UNICEF ambᴀssador David, who also shares sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, and 19-year-old Cruz, with wife Victoria, was being honoured at the event for his humanitarian work. 

He said: ‘I’ve always believed in the potential of children, and that when children are given time, opportunity and encouragement they will reach their full potential’.

‘Growing up, I benefited from that support from family, from coaches and from teachers’.

David then went on to urge his fellow attendees to do more for girls’ rights around the world: ‘Girls are held back by poverty, girls are held back by violence, girls are held back by discrimination’.

David Beckham, 49,  made a pᴀssionate speech about girls’ rights as he took to the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Monday

The footballer spoke about girls being ‘held back’ by poverty and discrimination and said he wanted his own daughter Harper, 13 (pictured) to have the opportunities as her brothers

David also shares sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, and 19-year-old Cruz, with wife Victoria, 50 (Beckham family pictured)

The sportsman looked suave as he took to the stage in a tailored navy suit that he layered over a crisp white shirt, tie and wore with spectacles. 

After David revealed his hopes for Harper he added: ‘[Girls] need opportunities. They need collective action and they need investment’.

Before presenting him with his trophy, The World Economic Forum’s chair person Hilde Schwab gushed over his: ‘extraordinary leadership and humanitarianism in promoting and protecting the rights of the world’s most vulnerable children’.

It comes after David celebrated 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador in a special Instagram post, looking back at his charity work over the decades.

The emotional video saw him sitting down to watch his most significant memories across his time at the organisation.

Sharing a clip from his early days at UNICEF, he said: ‘This is the sort of work I want to do. This is what I want to be involved in.’

Looking back at the heart-warming moment, David said: ‘I look young.’

The ex-England captain has helped children across the world, hopping back and forth across eras.

UNICEF ambᴀssador David  was being honoured at the event for his humanitarian work

He said: ‘I’ve always believed in the potential of children, and that when children are given time, opportunity and encouragement they will reach their full potential’

He told the audience: ‘Growing up, I benefited from that support from family, from coaches and from teachers’

David then went on to urge his fellow attendees to do more for girls’ rights: ‘Girls are held back by poverty, girls are held back by violence, girls are held back by discrimination’

The sportsman looked suave as he took to the stage in a tailored navy suit that he layered over a crisp white shirt, tie and wore with spectacles 

After David revealed his hopes for Harper he added: ‘[Girls] need opportunities. They need collective action and they need investment’

In one clip, he was wearing a suit and tie and giving a speech to a UNICEF meeting, while another showed a tattoo reading, ‘violence marks forever’.

He could also be seen on billboards and stepping out onto a football pitch to address fans.

Read More David Beckham details surprising new project with Victoria after the success of his Netflix documentary as he admits ‘it wasn’t the easiest thing to get her to agree to’

In another throwback, a shirtless David was mobbed by children playing football on a sandy pitch as the ambᴀssador smiled. 

Various sH๏τs saw him shaking hands with people he met across his many trips and watching as children ran around and played sport.

In many, he was holding young children and chatting to schoolkids in impoverished areas, while in one he high-fived some young people he was visiting and pretended to shake his hand in pain.

David’s charity work also saw him pouring soup and reading books with children during his visits, as well as showing off his football skills and even allowing one young player to put the ball through his legs.

Throughout the video clips, he says: ‘When I joined UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambᴀssador in 2005, I could never have imagined the journey I would take with this incredible organisation.

‘When visiting countries all over the world, I’ve seen firsthand how UNICEF is making a real difference in children’s lives and in their communities.

‘I’ve listened to young people talk about the challenges they face and their dreams for the future. Children have the power of hope to be free from violence, to receive a good education, for girls to be treated as equals alongside boys. 

It comes after David celebrated 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador in a special Instagram post, looking back at his charity work over the decades 

Throughout the video clips, he says: ‘When I joined UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambᴀssador in 2005, I could never have imagined the journey I would take with this incredible organisation.’

‘Every child has the right to dream and with the right support and opportunities, children can be empowered to shape their own lives.

‘A lot has changed in the past 20 years, but one thing stays true: every child should have the power to dream. So now and 20 years from now, we must all do what we can to help children fulfill their dreams.’

David added the caption: ‘I can’t believe that this year I’m celebrating 20 years as Goodwill Ambᴀssador for Unicef and a decade since I created my 7 Fund. 

‘Since my first visits as a young footballer to UNICEF projects around the world I’ve been inspired to use my platform to support their mission to fight for the rights of every child.

‘I am incredibly proud of all we have achieved together, and it is a huge honour for me to receive a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum. There is still so much more to do, let’s join together to help the world’s children reach their full potential.’